By Murimi Gitari, November, 06, 2025, As Africa enters a pivotal phase in its agricultural transformation, the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) has renewed its support for governments and institutions across the continent to accelerate food systems reforms.
Speaking at the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program Partnership Platform (CAADP-PP) in Kigali, AGRA emphasized the urgency of shifting from policy commitments to coordinated delivery rooted in African leadership and priorities.
Co-organized by the African Union Commission (AUC) and AUDA-NEPAD member states, this year’s CAADP-PP brought together key stakeholders to align on strategic actions that will drive tangible outcomes in Africa’s agri-food systems. AGRA unveiled the Africa Food Systems Report (AFSR) 2025, a comprehensive tool designed to track progress across supply chains, diets, food environments, and systemic drivers.
Jonathan Said, AGRA’s Vice President for Technical Expertise, highlighted the agency’s role in supporting the AUC and AUDA-NEPAD to foster coherence among partners and focus on high-impact priorities. These include developing food corridors, strengthening end-to-end value chains, and commercializing seed systems to help countries implement their National Agriculture Investment Plans (NAIPs) more effectively.
“Our goal is to crowd in private investment and expand access to finance for farmers and SMEs,” Said noted.
Among the shared commitments was a pledge to bolster government capacity in delivering flagship agricultural programs and policies. Partners also agreed to advance regional trade integration and support private sector investment in value addition and market access. AGRA’s initiatives aim to connect smallholder farmers to regional markets, reduce investment risks in agro-processing, and mobilize innovative financing models to promote inclusive growth and self-sufficiency.
Soil health emerged as a critical focus area, with stakeholders endorsing the African Soil Health and Fertilizer Agenda. AGRA and its partners are promoting integrated soil fertility management, efficient fertilizer use, and farmer-centered extension systems to combat soil degradation and improve access to agricultural inputs.
The forum also spotlighted the AU’s Seed and Biotechnology Action Plan, with a commitment to fast-track the commercialization and adoption of climate-smart, high-yielding, and nutrient-dense seed varieties. AGRA showcased its tri-partite model through the Centre of Excellence for Seed Systems in Africa (CESSA), linking AGRA, One CGIAR, and National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS) to deploy resilient seed technologies.
A renewed emphasis was placed on empowering youth and women as central agents of food systems transformation. AGRA is advancing targeted programs to increase access to finance, land, and skills for these groups. A side event hosted by the AUC focused on tracking youth entrepreneurship and employment in agrifood, underscoring the need for coherent metrics to guide investment and policy support for viable youth enterprises.
As Africa’s agricultural future takes shape, AGRA’s reaffirmed commitment signals a robust push toward inclusive, sustainable, and locally driven food systems reform.
